Saturday, July 15, 2017

NCC Executive Meyer puts the brakes on STOP

Statement from the Save The Orphanage Property (STOP) Campaign:

We are very sorry to have to tell you that we have lost this epic battle. We have all but exhausted every avenue of approach in trying to bring
Ogletown a regional park instead of a destructive and totally
unnecessary high density housing development. What we have found is
that, no matter how or what we try, it is virtually impossible to win
the battle for responsible land use in NCC when government and land
developers are thoroughly allied and entrenched. Our campaign to protect
the landscape, that included the identification of funding (State and
donor), is over after 2 long and exhaustive years. It is a great shame
because the property owners and their attorney had indicated their
desire to negotiate, and make a deal for parkland instead. This is a
tragedy that should not have happened.

In this particular fight,
we had a thoroughly proven and documented case for why a regional park
would be the superior choice and of greatest benefit to the already
underserved residents of Ogletown and S. Newark. There was a few million
dollars in NCC park funds available in the budget thanks to former
Executive Tom Gordon. Our Legislators put 1.25M in the Bond Bill. A
conservancy org had pledged 3/4 million. The Open Space Council pledged a
quarter million more. In an offer of generosity, the Felician Sisters
had agreed to accept a multi-year buy-out plan from the county/state,
meaning that future payments could simply be earmarked in future
budgets. This was a one time only opportunity that will never come
again. It was a dream offer for NCC, and when something means this
much, they make it happen. Not this time, not for Ogletown. Now the
dream is dead. With his refusal to budge one dollar above the 5.9
million offer that he made to the Felician Sisters, County Executive
Matthew Meyer has condemned this community to the devastating
consequences of this massive development project which we now know will
take place. Sources told us that although Mr. Meyer did indeed make an
offer, it was one that was unreasonable, and designed to fail. Matthew
Meyer has decided the future of generations to come. History will
remember this, and his legacy will not be one of honor. Remember this
when you enter the voting booth upon his re-election.

Where
there's a will, there's a way. Instead, County Executive Meyer has
turned his back on us. He and NCC lack political will and have put
builders and profits over their constituents, quality of life, and the
planet. At the County Council Meeting that we attended on July 11,
instead of communication, respect, and transparency, we witnessed
episodes of hostility and resentment, along with accusations of shady
dealing and underhandedness. And from the start of Executive Meyer's
term, there were red flags. Ask yourselves how Joseph Setting, the very
Developer who just won the Orphanage Property, landed a position as
Chairman of Executive Meyer's Parks Transition Team. This was a clear
conflict of interest and we may yet investigate how we can make a formal objection.

We at STOP chose to take the high ground
during the last few weeks, choosing to trust that Mr. Meyer would do the
right thing, and act in the best interests of this community. We
refused to participate in demonstrations and protests because we felt
that, if there was even a shred of hope left, we could not risk
alienating the Felician Sisters by risking disrespect shown to them
during a protest. We also were bound to the many organizations that
honored us by supporting us, and wanted to conduct ourselves with
dignity. We choose to do battle with the keyboard, which we feel is
mightier than the sword.

One thing we have learned is the
importance of community engagement. Although we are at this moment
devastated by Executive Meyer's sabotage, our spirits are not crushed.
Although we will soon disable this page, we hope that you will join us here, or at 1stStBikes.org,
where we will continue to try a make a difference and connect with our
community. Land Use advocacy has left a bitter taste in our mouths, but
our concern for our community will continue.

In closing, we urge
all of you to consider what has unfolded when entering the voting booth
next time. Please, never forget. Please consider this fiasco when
voting for candidates for County Council. There is nothing more we can
say at this point, except thanks to all of you for your support. We want
you to know that we did everything within our power to stop this
development from happening. We regret that we did not succeed.

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About Us

Ogletown Resilience is a committee of citizens and advocates from various civic organizations, advocating to preserve our environment and quality of life.

Mission

Our current living arrangement is under increasing threat from resource scarcity, lost biodiversity, and climate change. Ogletown Resilience is a group that promotes self-reliance, community building, and protecting the natural environment at the regional level - among other things!